Tape moistening and affixing device



March 7, 1933. E. H. MANvf-:LL

TAPE MOISTENING AND AFFIXING DEVICE Filed April 213, 1929 N `INVENTaR.

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ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 7, 1933 UNITED sra'ras EDWIN H. HANVELL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW

AND LOUIS CASPER, BOTE OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK Locom PTENT OFFICE YORK, ASSIGNOB T0 EDWIN E. HANVELL TAPE MOISTENDQ'G AND AFFIXING DEVICE Application led April 23,

My invention relates to im rovements in the art of moistening and a ing gumme'd paper tape upon paper, cardboard or similar substances and particularl for use in con nection with moistening andaiixing gummed paper tape operating in connection with telegraph printers.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective hand operated device wherebypaper tapes that havev been previously gummed may be moistened and aixed upon paper blanks or the like; and this is accomplished without recourse to felt or other wicks and requiring a minimum of maintenance which is not the case with moisteners of this class that employ wicks or felts as a moistening medium.

Asa further description of my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the moistenin and alixing device with the paper tape fe through the same on a line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a detail ofthe head 2 on a line 3 3.

In all of the foregoing vviews corresponding parts are represented by the same numerals of reference.

1 is a semi-translucent receptacle for holding water or other liquids. This receptacle is also used as a handle.

Attached to the liquid holding receptacle 1, is,'as a whole, a head 2 which is screwed on to the reccptaclel. Between the threads of the head 2 and the liquid holding receptacle 1 is a rubber gasket 22 which is used to prevent leakage of water or other liquid through the aforementioned threads, thus making the device water tight in so far as the connection between the head 2 and receptacle 1 is concerned.

Mounted loosely above the receptacle 1 is a tape holder 18 through an opening of which the paper tape is threaded. Secured to the sides of the tape holder are two exible clips 19 which secures the tape holder 18 o'n to the periphery of the receptacle and also permits its ready removal when desired. Secured to 1929: serial no. 557,874.

the end of the tape holder toward the head 2 is a combination tape lifter and holder 7. 5 -is a shaft bearing between lugs 8 and upon which the tape lifter 7 swings. The ta lifter is held in resilient tension upon t e paper tape 10 resting in the groove 21 by means of the curved shoe 15 which is attached to the curved support 4 which in turn is integral to the tape lifter 7. 6 is a coiled spring which maintains a downward pressure on the tape lifter 7. 16 is a pin projection over which the paper tape is threaded. 20 is a thumb piece continuation of the tape lifter 7, which when pressed upon downwardly causes the tape lifter to rise as shown in dotted lines and taking the paper tape with it lifting it clear of the moistening or gumming roll.- er 3.

This is employed when the device is not in use and prevents the paper tape from adhering to the roller 3 during its inactive period.

The moistening or gumming roller 3 is revoluble in the well 17. 'Ihe walls of the well are conformed to the shape of the roller as shown in Fig. 1. This enables the roller to readily take up any liquid that may How into the bottom of the well. The roller 3 revolves on a shaft 9, the latter being removable thereby permitting the roller 3 to be lifted out of the wellwhen desired for examination, maintenance, or renewal. tially secured by means of a spring arrangement 23 shown in detail in 3. The shaft 9 being slotted near the end of the same and projects outward from the head 2. The Wire springs at 23 readily t themselves into said slot holding the shaft substantially in its normal position until it is pulled out at the op 0- site side when it is desired to remove the ro er 3 as described.

The well 17 receives a water or other liquid supply from the combined reservoir and The shaft 9 is substanreceptacle through orifices 11 and 11'. The

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marily governed by the revoluble movement of the gumming or moistener roller 3. This is because of the following action: The water or other liquid first starts to flow through orifice 11 and continues to flow until the level of the liquid in the well has risen above the orifice 11. This prevents the air from flowing through the orifice 11, and, as a consequence the flow of water or other liquid through the orifice 11 ceases.

When the roller 3 is revolved by means hereinafter explained, it picks up water -or other liquid on its peri hery from the bottom of the well 17. he liquid thus obtained goes to moisten the under portion, usually the gummed portion of the paper ta 10 passing over the top peri hery of ro ler 3. This results in a fall of tile liquid level in the well 17. When the li uid level shall have been so reduced that t e orifice 11 is exposed, the water or other liquid will immediately start flowing into the well 17 through the orifice 11 and will continue to ow until the upper orifice 11 is again covered resulting in a cessation of the flow of liquid through the orifice 11 for the reason already stated. The faster the roller 3 revolves, the faster will the flow of liquid continue through the orifice 11, or contrary wise, if the roller movement is slower the liquid feed into the well 17 will likewise be slower. This is as it should be, the faster the ta 10 is drawn over the eriphery of the ro er 3, the greater will t ere be need of liquid su ply to the under portion of the tape 10 an conversely, if the movement of the roller is slower, less liquid will be re- Another advantage that I have discovered in the foregoing combination is that as the liquid becomes impregnated with the residue gum from the pa r tape, the moistening or gummin action gcomes more efiicient. Asauming to be the case, it is obvious that the maintenance of such a device is practicalrx nil e paper tape 10 asses over the roller 3 which is made of ba elite or similar insulated semi-poi'ousmaterial and then over a pair of guide wires 13, under a fixed roller 14 at the nose 12 of the head 2 and then f outward. The paper tape after it has v. drawn out of the moistening and aixing device is properly moistened or mined ready to be aixed on to a paper lank or other similar surface b the operator holdin said moistening andl alixing device.

e operation of the device is as follows:

The pa r that is to be moistened or umined and a ed is threaded through t e tape holder 18, then theta lifter 7 is lifted slightl and the aper is passed into groove 21 un er shoe 15 ut over the projecting pin 16 then over the moistening or gumming ro er 3, then under the fixed roller 14.

The device is held horizontally in the right hand and the tape is drawn out with the left hand. AA portion of the tape is then gummed on to t e paper blank in the case of tape comin from a telegraph printer. The tape is furt er drawn out and gummed to a paper blank or other surface and is cut into proper lengths at the end of a line as in the case of a telegraph messa e, or in shorter lengths to conform to the o rm of the mes-4 sage. The cutting of the paper tape is accomplished by a s ial paper cutter attached like a thimb e to the index finger of the left hand.

The device is also applicable for sealing packages with paper tape coming through the device from a paper roll mounted on a stand where it is free to unroll.

It will be noticed in Fig. 2 that the head 2 of the device is at an angle with the liquid holding receptacle.

The angle is made to conform with the natural angle of the hand so that the tape feed from t e device is perfectly straight althou h the device is held in a more or less angular manner. This arrangement makes it more restful for the o rator in preference to a head being perfectfyestraight with relation to the li uid holding receptacle when the latter is he d in the hand.

It can be readily seen that my invention is capable of considerable modification without epartin g from the s irit or essential features of my invention. or instance, the device can be arranged to be held vertically instead of horizontally and the head arrangement made to conform to such position. While I have found bakelite or equivalent semi-porous insulated material the best composition for the moistening wheel 3, other materials may be used such as aluminum, brass, wood, and so forth.

Now having described my invention, what I claim as new is:

- 1. In a tape moistening and aflixing device havin a head attached to a liquid holding receptac e, a well incorporated in said head, a moistening or guminin wheel revoluble in said well, means for feein liquid from said holding receptacle into sai well, said means coacting with the movement of said wheel, a tape groove, a sprin pressed curved pressure shoe resting normal y upon the gummed pa'- per tape that rests in said groove preparatory to being moistened; a ta guide embracing the tape and integral wit the lower face of said shoe, and a finger lever integral with said shoe for lifting the tape clear of the gumming or moistening wheel aforesaid.

2. In a tape moistening and aixin device havin a head attached to a liquid hol in receptac e, said head having tape gui `ng means and means for meiste or gummin paper tape passing through e saine, an

: said head and tape guiding means having an v angular inclination laterally with respect to the liquid holding receptacle to which said head is attached.

3. In a tape moistener or the like, a bod providing a reservoir and an adjacent well whose bottom ends are formed inthe arc of'acircle, there being a fluid supply duct'and a superjacent vvent duct communicating from said well to the reservoir, both ducts being below the level of the fluid in the reservoir, a freely revoluble moistening roller in said well and'providing an anti-friction tape sugport, said roller` having its sides and perip ery closely spaced tothe opposed walls of the well whereby to prevent rise of the fluid level inthewell above said vent duct.

4. In a tape moistener or the like, abcd providing a reservoir and an adjacent we having an arcuate bottom,A a uid supply duct and a 'superjacent vent duct communicating from said reservoir to .said well, means for preventing the rise of fluid in said well above the level of said vent duct and comprising a freely revoluble tape supporting roller having its periphery and sides closely spaced to the bottom and'sides of the well, and said supply duct discharging thoughthe curved bottom of the well'against the periphery of said roll. v

5. In a tape moistener or the like, a body providing a reservoir and an adjacent well having an arcuate bottom, a fluid supply duct VVVand a .superjacent vent duct communicatroller w ereby the same w ing from said reservoir through the bottom of Asaid well, means for preventing the rise of iiuid in said well above the level of said vent duct and comprising a reelyrevoluble tape supporting roller havin its periphey and si es closely spaced to t e bottom an sides of thewell, said iiuid from said ysupply duct dischar g against the Eeriphery of said en in motion will accelerate the How. v

' EDWIN H. MANVELL. 

